From list at ptidaho.org Tue Jun 2 10:54:09 2009 From: list at ptidaho.org (PTIdaho.org List) Date: Tue, 02 Jun 2009 10:54:09 -0600 Subject: [List] Con-ed Boise June 10 Message-ID: <20090602105409.nb6hiqazy8socsgo@webmail.ptidaho.org> From Jill Cooper, IPTA. To respond to this email please use office at ptidaho.org. A course in /Efficacy of Low Level Lasers in PT/ is being presented June 10 in Boise at Spring Hill Suites Marriott on ParkCenter Blvd. The sponsor called me today to say no Idaho PTs had signed up! (Five have from Eastern Oregon). The price is right - $150 for 8 credit hours. Check it out at www.erchonia.com and take the link to "seminars." -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.ptidaho.org/pipermail/list/attachments/20090602/d4555680/attachment.html From list at ptidaho.org Wed Jun 3 10:49:20 2009 From: list at ptidaho.org (PTIdaho.org List) Date: Wed, 03 Jun 2009 10:49:20 -0600 Subject: [List] Legislative Report from IPTA's lobbying firm Message-ID: <20090603104920.8mw4ue0z8kwo8sog@webmail.ptidaho.org> EMAIL SENT BY JILL COOPER, IPTA EXEC. DIR. PL. REPLY TO OFFICE at PTIDAHO.ORG. Legislative Report from IPTA lobbyists Jeremy P. Pisca and Benjamin Davenport ??? The First Regular Session of the 60th Idaho Legislature concluded on Friday, May 8th.? The 2009 session will officially go into the history books as the second longest session of the Idaho Legislature, falling one legislative day short of tying the 2003 record session that lasted 118 legislative days. ? ?? ?The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and increases in transportation infrastructure maintenance funding were the two major factors in the length of the session.? The session brought few surprises but exposed some contentious in-fighting within the Republican Party.? Of particular note was the contention between house Republicans, the governor and senate.? From the outset of the session the governor sought enhanced revenues for maintenance and operations of highway infrastructure to address a $240 million shortfall.? A myriad of funding proposals ranging from gas taxes, registration fees and administrative fee increases were debated.? Without question this was a major issue of the session and ultimately ended with Idaho Transportation Department receiving $54 million more than it started with, though none of those funds were secured through the gas tax or registration fee increases sought by Governor Otter. ?? ?As part of a compromise, two task forces will meet through the interim to further study the problem and the need for additional funding.? The troubled economy and declining state revenues also had a major impact on the overall process at the capitol.? Most legislation with a perceived negative impact to the state?s general fund were summarily dismissed and not considered.? With declining revenues, no department was left unaffected and budget cuts were a dominant theme throughout the session.? Education, which accounts for the lion?s share (65%) of the state?s budget became a battleground issue.? In the end the FY 2010 education budget was cut for the first time in decades (7.9%) though was largely saved by federal stimulus dollars and ?rainy day? funds.? Though the session has concluded, more likely than not, the same discussions that occurred during the session will continue through the interim:? transportation revenue enhancement, general revenue enhancement and budget reduction measures. ? ?? ?This firm monitored many issues for the IPTA.? While many issues were tracked, fortunately we were required to actively engage in only one ? H. 171 the Occupational Therapy Act.? House Bill 171 was brought forward by the Idaho Occupational Therapy association.? The bill, essentially, was following in the IPTA?s footsteps by updating the occupational therapy act as well as moving it out from under the jurisdiction of the Idaho State Board of Medicine and under the Idaho Department of Self-governing agencies, through the Bureau of Occupational Licensing.? After review of the bill, and with the advice and assistance of the APTA, several issues of concern were raised regarding the definition of ?Practice of Occupational Therapy.?? Thanks in large part to the dedication of Al Crothers, Lyn Johnston and Dr. Alex Urfer, we were able to successfully negotiate a bill that was acceptable to both the IPTA and the IOTA.? The legislation was ultimately pulled and replaced by the consensus H. 261.? House Bill 261 was signed into law on April 23rd and will be effective July 1, 2009. ? ?? ?For a list of the bills tracked on IPTA?s behalf, contact office at ptidaho.org for a Word file attachment. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.ptidaho.org/pipermail/list/attachments/20090603/ef5f5786/attachment.html From list at ptidaho.org Thu Jun 4 15:52:55 2009 From: list at ptidaho.org (PTIdaho.org List) Date: Thu, 4 Jun 2009 15:52:55 -0600 Subject: [List] FW: Save the Date: June 23 Virtual Rally for Health Care Reform Message-ID: <32DDFB37C0D6437AAC793CD382F56F88@THOWELL> Hi everyone, I have sent updates on health care reform but this is one that is VERY important to our profession. This virtual rally will allow our collective voices to be heard louder than ever before. I encourage every PT member and non-member to try to participate. Health care reform will happen and we need to ensure that our profession, which holds valuable keys to the success of any reform, gets recognized for our roles and our value to our communities and to our patients. Please pass this along to every therapist you know and please join us! Thanks! Tom Howell, P.T., M.P.T. thowell at fiberpipe.net This email and any files transmitted with it may contain PRIVILEGED or CONFIDENTIAL information and may be read or used only by the intended recipient. If you are not the intended recipient of the email or any of its attachments, please be advised that you have received this email in error and that any use, dissemination, distribution, forwarding, printing or copying of this email or any attached files is strictly prohibited. If you have received this email in error, please immediately purge it and all attachments and notify the sender by reply email. _____ From: Advocacy [mailto:advocacy at apta.org] Sent: Wednesday, June 03, 2009 1:26 PM To: thowell at fiberpipe.net Subject: Save the Date: June 23 Virtual Rally for Health Care Reform SAVE THE DATE!!! JUNE 23rd Everyone is talking about it. Join APTA in doing something about it. PARTICIPATE in this special APTA advocacy event and be a part of the National Health Care Reform debate! WHAT: APTA Virtual Rally for Health Care Reform WHEN: Tuesday, June 23rd from 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm EDST WHERE: Visit us at www.apta.org/virtualrally to attend this special online event! Additional logistics will be provided soon! APTA is dedicated to bringing greater awareness of the current health care reform debate to its membership as well as highlighting the association's priorities, plan and position on comprehensive health care reform as it is being debated in Congress. APTA supports a number of themes that coincide with the broader health care reform debate, including expanded coverage, payment reform, guarantee issue, workforce, research, health information technology, and prevention. We look forward to strengthening our influence through your advocacy efforts during this important and historic time in health care reform. To learn more about the current health care reform agenda, visit APTA's Health Care Reform Resource Center at www.apta.org/healthcarereform. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.ptidaho.org/pipermail/list/attachments/20090604/dc9bf2c3/attachment.html From list at ptidaho.org Sat Jun 6 09:54:55 2009 From: list at ptidaho.org (PTIdaho.org List) Date: Sat, 06 Jun 2009 09:54:55 -0600 Subject: [List] NEW date for APTA Virtual Rally for Health Care Reform Message-ID: <20090606095455.4l0d6xpwpw48wsso@webmail.ptidaho.org> This email sent from Jill Cooper, IPTA.? IF YOU NEED TO REPLY, DO SO TO OFFICE at PTIDAHO.ORG. CHANGE OF DATE FOR HEALTH CARE REFORM VIRTUAL RALLY Everyone is talking about it. Join APTA in doing something about it. PARTICIPATE in this special APTA advocacy event and be a part of the National Health Care Reform debate! WHAT:? ? ? ? ? ?APTA Virtual Rally for Health Care Reform WHEN:? ? ? ? ? ?WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24TH FROM 7:30 PM TO 9:00 PM EDST WHERE:? ? ? ? Visit us at www.apta.org/virtualrally to attend this special online event!? Additional logistics will be provided soon! APTA is dedicated to bringing greater awareness of the current health care reform debate to its membership as well as highlighting the association's priorities, plan and position on comprehensive health care reform as it is being debated in Congress. APTA supports a number of themes that coincide with the broader health care reform debate, including expanded coverage, payment reform, guarantee issue, workforce, research, health information technology, and prevention.? We look forward to strengthening our influence through your advocacy efforts during this important and historic time in health care reform. To learn more about the current health care reform agenda, visit APTA's Health Care Reform Resource Center at www.apta.org/healthcarereform. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.ptidaho.org/pipermail/list/attachments/20090606/754f0d0f/attachment.html From list at ptidaho.org Thu Jun 18 15:45:49 2009 From: list at ptidaho.org (PTIdaho.org List) Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2009 15:45:49 -0600 Subject: [List] Two items from APTA on scam and fraud Message-ID: <20090618154549.vl2h3zju74o4w08s@webmail.ptidaho.org> Sent to you by IPTA. TO REPLY TO THIS EMAIL DO SO TO OFFICE at PTIDAHO.ORG. MEDICARE ENROLLMENT APPLICATION SCAM Physical therapists and other health care providers enrolled with the Medicare program should be aware of a recent scam involving the Medicare enrollment application. As part of the scam, a Medicare-enrolled provider receives a letter or fax notifying him or her that the enrollment application must be resubmitted within 48 hours or else the provider will risk payment disruptions. This letter or fax may appear official and may also incorporate CMS logos. However, this request is not legitimate. Once the application is received, Medicare payments are rerouted to the perpetrator(s) bank account. If you receive a letter or fax instructing you to resubmit your enrollment information, you should call your Medicare contractor's provider enrollment department to verify the request. This contact information can be found on your contractor's Web site. Several Medicare contractors, including Palmetto GBA, have issued listserve alerts notifying providers of this scam. Fraud Enforcement Recovery Act to Affect Physical Therapists Sweeping changes to the federal False Claims Act (FCA) that were enacted when President Obama signed the Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act (FERA) into law (PL 111-021) on May 20 will affect health care providers, including physical therapists. The FCA imposes liability on any person who submits a claim to the federal government (for example, Medicare) that he or she knows (or should know) is false. Health care providers should pay close attention to new provisions in FERA, particularly those related to refunding overpayments to the government, to expanded provisions related to retaliation against "employees," and to the enhanced investigative authority of the government. For more information on the new legislation, go to APTA's summary posted on the Web site. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.ptidaho.org/pipermail/list/attachments/20090618/2cf87612/attachment.html From list at ptidaho.org Mon Jun 22 16:18:55 2009 From: list at ptidaho.org (PTIdaho.org List) Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 16:18:55 -0600 Subject: [List] APTA Virtual Rally Message-ID: <7E3F63AE90FB4207B614DC668F4CEAEE@THOWELL> Hi Everyone, DON' FORGET! Please join me Weds June 24th at the APTA Virtual Rally for Healthcare Reform. The registration system should be up soon to preregister! The rally is from 5:30pm to 7pm Mountain Time (4:30 - 6:00 Pacific). I know it will be tough for colleagues in Northern Idaho but please try to join in. We need to be heard as one voice, one big assertive voice so Congress understands the importance of Physical Therapists and Physical Therapist Assistants to healthcare reform! WE CAN DO THIS! Let's do it together!! I look forward to your participation this Wednesday! Tom Howell, P.T., M.P.T. Howell Physical Therapy Eagle, ID thowell at fiberpipe.net This email and any files transmitted with it may contain PRIVILEGED or CONFIDENTIAL information and may be read or used only by the intended recipient. If you are not the intended recipient of the email or any of its attachments, please be advised that you have received this email in error and that any use, dissemination, distribution, forwarding, printing or copying of this email or any attached files is strictly prohibited. If you have received this email in error, please immediately purge it and all attachments and notify the sender by reply email. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.ptidaho.org/pipermail/list/attachments/20090622/6ceedc50/attachment.html From list at ptidaho.org Mon Jun 22 18:22:10 2009 From: list at ptidaho.org (PTIdaho.org List) Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 18:22:10 -0600 Subject: [List] FW: Participate in APTA's Virtual Rally and Town Hall on Health Care Reform Message-ID: Here's the information about registering for the rally! Please join us! Tom Howell, P.T., M.P.T. thowell at fiberpipe.net This email and any files transmitted with it may contain PRIVILEGED or CONFIDENTIAL information and may be read or used only by the intended recipient. If you are not the intended recipient of the email or any of its attachments, please be advised that you have received this email in error and that any use, dissemination, distribution, forwarding, printing or copying of this email or any attached files is strictly prohibited. If you have received this email in error, please immediately purge it and all attachments and notify the sender by reply email. _____ From: APTA Headquarters [mailto:apta_headquarters at apta.org] Sent: Monday, June 22, 2009 5:40 PM To: APTA Members Subject: Participate in APTA's Virtual Rally and Town Hall on Health Care Reform Everyone is talking about it. Join APTA in doing something about it! Don't miss APTA's FREE virtual rally on health care reform, a first-of-its-kind online event to ensure the physical therapy profession makes an impact in the national health care reform debate. WHEN: Wednesday, June 24 7:30 pm-9:00 pm ET Join your colleagues from across the country; participate in the national health care reform debate from the comfort of your home or office. The online rally is OPEN TO ALL interested parties and will include video messages from APTA leaders, a presentation on reform proposals, an interactive town hall session in which participants can ask questions, and a call to action in which participants can lobby their members of Congress and the Administration on the important issue of health reform. The association supports a number of themes that coincide with the broader health care reform debate, including expanded coverage, payment reform, guaranteed issue, workforce, research, health information technology, and prevention. Registration & Participation To participate in APTA's Virtual Rally for Health Care Reform, you must register at www.apta.org/virtualrally to access the program. REGISTRATION IS FREE, and your information will not be shared. Register now, in advance of the rally, at www.apta.org/virtualrally to save time before the presentation. Or, you may register the evening of June 24 by logging in approximately 5 to 10 minutes before the program begins at 7:30 pm. The APTA Virtual Rally for Health Care Reform program will play on your computer by using your computer system's audio capabilities. If your computer doesn't have audio capability, or if you will not have computer access but want to listen in, there will be a call-in number for audio only available the night of the rally. You will find the call-in number at the Web address listed above the evening of June 24. Please join the rally and help strengthen the profession's influence during this important and historic time in health care reform! If you have any questions, please e-mail advocacy at apta.org. Please DO NOT REPLY to this E-mail as it will go to a system email account and will not be seen by the intended recipient. Send any replies to advocacy at apta.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.ptidaho.org/pipermail/list/attachments/20090622/d85c3e9a/attachment.html From list at ptidaho.org Wed Jun 24 19:07:46 2009 From: list at ptidaho.org (PTIdaho.org List) Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 19:07:46 -0600 Subject: [List] The Virtual Rally just ended, now the work begins! Message-ID: Hi everyone, The APTA Virtual Rally for healthcare reform just ended and here is the challenge. We need 10,000 emails sent 1000 phone calls Meetings with your members of Congress at your facility or at their offices (July 4th or August recesses) Attendance at fundraisers Let's get to work. Go to aptavirtualrally.com for all the details about tonight's rally and about how to act. The APTA now has a PATIENT ACTION CENTER as well at their website so let's get our patients involved and have them contact Congress as well. There are talking points about our priorities in reform at the website. It is up to us now. There are aspects of reform we know about already that have been released in the last few weeks that could have negative effects on our profession and many that will have positive effects. It is up to us, to you, to contact Congress now to let them know what we are recommending and fighting for! Let's go! Tom Howell, P.T., M.P.T. Howell Physical Therapy Eagle, ID thowell at fiberpipe.net This email and any files transmitted with it may contain PRIVILEGED or CONFIDENTIAL information and may be read or used only by the intended recipient. If you are not the intended recipient of the email or any of its attachments, please be advised that you have received this email in error and that any use, dissemination, distribution, forwarding, printing or copying of this email or any attached files is strictly prohibited. If you have received this email in error, please immediately purge it and all attachments and notify the sender by reply email. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.ptidaho.org/pipermail/list/attachments/20090624/1a5499e1/attachment.html